“The master is asking for us?”
“Yes, Lord Tengen. Lord Kagaya has said that he wishes to see both of you.”
Tengen looked at Tatsuo, who was standing with his guandao serving as a cane.
Why him...
No. The master must have his reasons.
“Hey. The master is calling for you. Come with me.”
“I... cough... why...”
Every time Tatsuo opened his mouth, blood spilled out.
“Lord Tengen? Isn’t he in pretty bad shape?”
The crow asked with obvious concern.
“He’s fine. He looks like that, but I think he’s using Breathing.”
“How strange. A swordsman who uses Breathing without even joining the Demon Slayers...”
“Yeah. Strange indeed.”
Tengen gave a small shrug and looked at Tatsuo.
He was a strange one. When Tengen had rushed over after hearing of the Twelve Kizuki’s appearance, Tatsuo had already been fighting one of them.
No matter how you looked at it, even if it was only Lower Rank Six, a Twelve Kizuki was still a Twelve Kizuki. Not someone an ordinary Demon Slayer could handle.
And when Tengen had finished off the demon, he’d discovered Tatsuo wasn’t even a Demon Slayer. And yet he used Breathing.
Then there was the lunatic who had suddenly challenged Tengen to a fight. Since he seemed to have real skill, Tengen had set the condition that he join the Demon Slayers, hoping to lighten the master’s burden.
Once they actually crossed blades, his skill was already good enough to call first-rate.
Thinking about it now, there was more than enough reason for the master to take an interest in him.
“Sounds like you’re talking about me. It’d be a shame to leave the person involved out of the conversation.”
Before long, Tatsuo had recovered enough to speak in a somewhat steady voice.
“I’ll get to the point. You just need to follow me. Don’t bother saying no. The condition I set was that you become a Demon Slayer. In other words, you have to answer the master’s summons.”
“I was planning to go anyway. The one you call the master. He’s clearly the head of your group. I’m curious to see what kind of man he is.”
**
In one room, a man and a woman sat together.
“Amane, they should be here soon.”
The speaker was the man.
His hair was cut short, hanging down to his neck, and a scar-like mark covered half his forehead and one eye.
“I’ll be ready.”
The woman called Amane answered.
She was a striking beauty, her lovely white hair making her appearance even more memorable.
The man rose to his feet.
“Then I suppose I should prepare to receive our guest as well.”
**
“Hey. Show some respect in front of the master.”
Tengen said, looking at Tatsuo.
“Shut up. I’ll respect whoever I think deserves it.”
Tatsuo answered with a blank expression.
“Then why don’t you show me any respect?”
“You’re not at that level.”
“What did you say—!!”
Tengen and Tatsuo’s argument did not last long.
“The master is coming.”
It was the shout of a child that cut them off.
With that cry, a man appeared.
So that’s the head of the Demon Slayers.
Interesting. What’s that on his face? A scar? Or some kind of illness?
As Tatsuo observed the leader, he sensed movement behind him.
He twisted quickly to dodge. Tengen’s hand struck empty air.
Tengen was already down on one knee, apparently having moved to force Tatsuo to bow.
“Tengen... It’s good to see you again. You look well...”
The man spoke.
This is rather...
Tatsuo felt oddly at ease for a moment.
“I’m glad to see the master is well too.”
Tengen replied.
“Are you the one who helped with the extermination of the demon this time?”
The man looked at Tatsuo as he spoke.
“More importantly, who are you? I think it’s proper to introduce yourself first. I’m Tsunokake Tatsuo.”
“You brat!!”
Tengen shouted at Tatsuo’s words.
“It’s all right, Tengen.”
“I was late in introducing myself. My name is Ubuyashiki Kagaya. I am still unworthy, but I serve as the current head of the Demon Slayers.”
After finishing his introduction, Kagaya took a breath.
“Do you know about the Demon Slayers?”
“A little. Uzui told me.”
“I see. Thank you, Tengen.”
Kagaya looked at Tengen and smiled faintly.
“That’s...”
“First, thank you, Tsunokake. Thanks to you, we were able to avoid the complete annihilation of our children.”
“You mean the Demon Slayers over there.”
Tatsuo narrowed his eyes.
“It was nothing. I only fought a strong opponent.”
“If you had not moved the battle elsewhere, the other two would not have survived either.”
“That was because there was someone precious nearby.”
Kagaya quietly smiled and looked at Tatsuo.
“If you already know about the Demon Slayers, then this will be quick. Tsunokake Tatsuo. Would you consider becoming a Demon Slayer?”
“...You seem pretty popular today.”
Tatsuo answered after a short pause, sounding a little flustered by the sudden offer.
“Can we speak alone?”
“Of course.”
At Tatsuo’s question, Kagaya answered with a smile.
“I’m sorry, Tengen. It seems we need to speak privately.”
“Understood.”
When he finished speaking, Tengen shot Tatsuo one last glare, then vanished like the wind.
“Shall we go inside and talk?”
**
“But Ubuyashiki, to be honest, I don’t need your invitation. I was already planning to join the Demon Slayers because of my promise with Uzui.”
“I know. I’ve already roughly grasped the situation. But I thought your own will was what mattered most.”
“Then our intentions match. From what I’ve heard, the demons seem to have quite a few strong ones. Sounds interesting.”
“I’ve brought tea.”
The two men’s conversation paused for a moment. A woman had entered carrying tea.
“Thank you, Amane.”
“Who is this?”
“My wife.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tsunokake Tatsuo. I’m Ubuyashiki Amane.”
“...Likewise.”
“Then please continue your conversation.”
Apparently that was all she had come for, because Amane left the room.
Once she was gone, Kagaya rose from his seat.
“I would be grateful if you did, but the will I’m speaking of concerns duty.”
“I inherited the position of Demon Slayer master when I was four years old.”
“For the fourteen years since then, I have watched countless people suffer injuries and die.”
“Among them were even the Hashira, the strongest forces in the Demon Slayers.”
He walked toward the candle.
“As you may know if you’ve learned about the Demon Slayers, most of our members are people who have suffered at the hands of demons.”
“Those who have been hurt always hate demons and seek to fight them. But demons are powerful enemies, so naturally there are many sacrifices.”
“Someone who has lost something precious to a demon joins the Demon Slayers, fights demons, and dies...”
“I want to break this chain of tragedy. It may be my own wishful thinking, but I believe the current generation of the Demon Slayers can be called a golden age.”
As if touching the candlelight, Kagaya continued speaking.
“Talented people are appearing one after another. There are not many Hashira left at the moment, but the empty seats will be filled soon enough.”
“Everything ends once we bring down the king of demons, Kibutsuji Muzan. I firmly believe that our generation will succeed.”
“I would also like to fight demons myself, but... I lack the talent and the body for it.”
Kagaya turned his head and looked at Tatsuo.
“Tsunokake Tatsuo. You have no grudge or debt to demons. But I ask you this: will you help us end this chain of tragedy and despair in our generation?”
“More precisely... would you join the Demon Slayers and fulfill this duty?”
As Kagaya spoke to Tatsuo, it was as if a blazing sun lived in his eyes.
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