Rengoku Kyojuro crossed his arms and looked at Tanjiro with blazing enthusiasm.
"Your father! What about him? Go on!"
"He was very frail..."
"Frail? That is unfortunate!"
"Even so, he could dance the Kagura in the freezing wind and snow..."
"Mm! That is splendid!"
For the first time, Tanjiro felt that having someone respond passionately to every single sentence could be rather overwhelming.
He quickly refined his words and spoke at rapid speed.
"Mr. Rengoku! What I mean is, the Hinokami Kagura passed down in my family can produce power similar to Flame Breathing! Have you heard of it?"
Rengoku Kyojuro sat with arms folded, eyes shining as he stared ahead. After thinking for a long while, he declared:
"Mm! I have not!"
"Eh?"
"However, Kamado boy, it is a good thing that your father's Kagura can manifest the power of a Breathing Style! It may be a derivative Breathing!"
"A derivative Breathing?"
"Mm! The Flame Breathing I use is one of the five foundational branches derived from the original Breathing Style! Its essence lies in sword strikes as scorching as the sun, blazing flames that purify all things!"
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, fingers spread, as if invisible flames were rising from his palm.
"Because the original Breathing is extremely difficult to master, five major Breathing Styles were developed to suit different physiques! Your father's Hinokami Kagura may very well be one such derivative!"
"I see!" Tanjiro clenched his fists in excitement and was about to ask more when Rengoku interrupted him directly.
"But that is all I know! Hahaha! Why not become my Tsuguko? I will take good care of you!"
"Ah? That's it? Also... where have you been looking this whole time?"
Asuka listened quietly from the side, thoughts churning.
Derivative Breathing... The last time he heard that term was from Tokito Muichiro.
After a moment, he voiced his own question.
"Mr. Rengoku, I would like to ask about derivative Breathing Styles..."
What followed was a discussion between Asuka and Rengoku about the similarities and differences between Wind and Flame Breathing. Asuka proposed referencing Flame Breathing to supplement his own sword forms.
Rengoku Kyojuro was generous about it. Referencing Flame Breathing was no problem at all, he said, but it would have to wait until after the mission, when they returned to the Rengoku residence to borrow The Guidebook of Flame Breathing from his father.
"The methods of training Flame Breathing have always been passed down in your family, Mr. Rengoku?"
"Indeed! For generations, the men of my family have been swordsmen of Flame Breathing. No matter the era or circumstances, we will find a way to preserve and pass down this power!"
Just as the discussion eased some of the tension about demons within the carriage, the compartment door slid open softly.
A railway conductor in a black uniform stepped inside.
His face was gaunt, his steps light and drifting, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings.
He walked straight past the other passengers who had already fallen asleep and stopped before Asuka and the others.
"Good evening, passengers. Please present your tickets."
His voice was hollow, unnaturally weak.
Is this the ticket? Asuka reached into his pocket and took out the yellow slip Zenitsu had handed him before boarding.
Expressionless, the conductor accepted their tickets one by one and punched each with his clipper.
Click. Asuka's ticket was stamped as well.
The bright incandescent lights flickered.
Buzz.
A sudden sense of unease gripped Asuka. He immediately tightened his hold on the Asauchi at his waist.
A demon?
"Mr. Conductor, it is dangerous here. Please step back."
Rengoku Kyojuro stood at once, revealing the Nichirin Blade at his waist with its flame-shaped tsuba.
"This is an emergency. Please do not concern yourself with the sword prohibition."
Almost the instant his words fell—
Three demons appeared inside the carriage as if from thin air.
The first burst up from the rear seats.
He wore soot-stained laborer's clothes, but his neck twisted grotesquely one hundred eighty degrees. The back of his head split open into a blood-soaked maw lined with fangs as he lunged for the nearest young female passenger.
"Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
Without another word, Rengoku transformed into a golden-red meteor, his blade wrapped in explosive flames as it swept through the demon's throat.
Slash.
The flaming blade severed the demon's head instantly, reducing it to charred ash that scattered away.
The second demon materialized from the shadows of the aisle, darting like a venomous serpent straight for Asuka's back.
Flash.
Asuka did not even employ a Wind Breathing form before decapitating it. His draw was so swift that even Rengoku Kyojuro glanced at him in surprise.
"Mm! As expected of a Hashira who has slain a Lower Rank of the Twelve Kizuki! Excellent!"
The third demon resembled a hunched old woman, writhing as she tumbled from the luggage rack.
Her spine twisted grotesquely, bone protrusions shaped like scythes stabbing outward as they swept toward the passengers.
"First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
"Second Fang: Slice!"
Tanjiro and Inosuke struck at the same time. Steel rang and sparks flew.
Together, they halted the demon's assault, preventing harm to the passengers.
The next instant, Rengoku charged again.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
Boom.
Golden-red radiance surged skyward. Blazing flames erupted from nothingness.
With a shrill scream, the demon's neck and body were incinerated into drifting ash.
In the blink of an eye, all three demons were slain.
The carriage fell silent for a moment before erupting into applause and cheers. The passengers expressed their gratitude to the demon slayers.
"Well done!" Rengoku sheathed his blade and laughed heartily, his golden-red haori trembling with the force of it. "Petty demons cannot shake our resolve to protect! Hahaha!"
His booming laughter dispelled the last traces of gloom.
Tanjiro and the others smiled in relief. Even Asuka allowed himself a faint smile.
"So strong! Big Brother, you're amazing! Please take me as your disciple!" Tanjiro exclaimed excitedly, circling Rengoku.
"Very well! I shall look after you!"
Rengoku accepted loudly, brimming with spirit.
Zenitsu and Inosuke crowded around him as well.
"Please take us too!"
"Hahaha! Good! I will train you all into outstanding swordsmen!"
"Long live Brother Rengoku!"
"Hahahaha!"
And yet...
From a distance, the conductor watched them coldly, as though he had witnessed none of the thrilling demon slaying.
He put away the ticket clipper, took several lengths of hemp rope from his pocket, and crouched down gently.
The world warped.
The entire scene dissolved.
In the next moment, those who had been celebrating were now quietly asleep in their seats.
Whose dream had that been?
The conductor carefully tied the ropes around their wrists and beckoned toward the other end of the carriage.
Four boys and girls, just as gaunt as he was, entered.
"Each of you choose one. I will take this one..."
He pointed at Asuka, whose brow was tightly furrowed even in sleep.
As he spoke, he took out an awl from his pocket.
"Are you ready?"
A chilling voice descended from above his head.
A hand. Only a hand.
Using its five fingers as legs, it crawled across the ceiling.
Green eyes were embedded in the flesh of that hand, and a mouth with gleaming white teeth grinned from the back.
The gaunt youths bowed respectfully to the demonic hand.
"What should we do now?"
"Wait a little longer. Their sleep will deepen."
"Through my Blood Demon Art, you will be able to enter their dreams."
"In their dreams, find the spiritual core that belongs to their soul and destroy it."
"No matter how powerful a demon slayer may be, in a dream they have no ability to resist. Killing them will be effortless. Do not be nervous."
The demon hand studied Asuka and Rengoku Kyojuro before adding:
"However, these demon slayers have keen senses. Killing intent or demonic aura may wake them. Be careful not to touch their bodies..."
"Please... let me see my dead daughter..." the conductor suddenly pleaded, kneeling reverently before the demonic hand.
"Of course. Complete the mission, and any sweet dream can be yours."
It smiled, voice dripping with intoxicated delight.
"To die within a beautiful dream... how blissful..."