A great scar ran across his forehead, his blind eyes milky white without pupils, and his frame was that of a muscular behemoth.
The owner of this house was the Hashira we'd sparred with several days ago—Himejima Kyoumei.
Looking at that man, it seemed we really had found the right place.
But how did we end up at Himejima Kyoumei's house?
To tell that, I need to turn back time a bit.
I'll rewind to the moment when the conversation was about to drift, then restart the story from there.
In any case, I barely managed to calm Kanae, who couldn't focus, and Shinobu, who kept breaking the flow by prying into my age, and I steered the topic back from my age to finding the Demon Slayer Corps.
Still, I really didn't know what to do.
Even if we only needed to contact a single Demon Slayer Corps member, where would we find one?
It's not like we could search around here at night…
Should I call for Uzui Ei..? Maybe Uzui could handle it…
"If only I at least knew the location of a Corps member's house…"
That mutter mixed with lament, and Kanae responded to my self-talk.
"…Huh?"
"How do you know that?"
"Well…"
Meeting my questioning gaze, Kanae scratched her cheek and spoke.
"It was the Silver Unit members who taught me… after I said I wanted to thank Himejima-san…"
I pressed my palm to my face as if nursing a headache.
Damn… the Silver Unit again? They told you this too?
Might as well mount a megaphone and announce it.
They really don't care about anyone's privacy…
Still, it was a relief.
If she's talking about Himejima, it must be the Hashira we fought those few days ago.
In other words, he's one of the Hashira, and judging by his prowess, the strongest in the Demon Slayer Corps.
He must know several instructors he could send us to.
But…
Why didn't you say anything? You could've told me long ago if you knew.
"You knew, so why didn't you say anything?"
Stand up straight, Kanae.
Why did you keep silent when you knew such an important solution?
Kanae, head bowed, spoke in response to my questioning tone.
"Well… Tsukinokami-san and Himejima-san fought because of a misunderstanding, right? So I thought he might hate it…"
…I see.
I felt like I couldn't argue in front of her…
@@@
I asked him to introduce us to an instructor who could teach the children Total Concentration Breathing.
At those words, Himejima, of course, refused.
Well, it was the reaction I expected.
What sane person would agree to that crazy request?
Even with Shinobu and Kanae pleading, Himejima went back inside as if he wouldn't hear another word.
"What's with that man?!"
Shinobu puffed her cheeks at Himejima's cold response.
"I wonder if something happened to him?"
Despite being shown the door, Kanae gazed at the front door with worry.
Once again, the sisters showed different reactions.
"I'm sure he has his reasons…"
Yes.
I judged that the man must indeed have such circumstances.
Even for a demon like me, I felt my heartbeat quicken slightly when I looked at Kanae and Shinobu.
True to his status as a Hashira, he soon returned to composure, yet his body still recoiled from them.
It's hard to understand showing such emotion toward children you've barely met.
Well, if they'd just come and begged to be sent to the Corps, maybe it would make sense…
I wondered if something unfortunate had happened involving the girls…
In any case…
I looked at the sisters and spoke.
"All right, it's time we parted ways."
Time to part ways.
After all, the reason I sought the Corps wasn't to make the sisters Demon Slayers, but to separate them from me.
I'd brought them to Himejima's house, so I thought I'd done all I could.
From here on, it was Himejima's choice.
Would he accept the sisters into the Corps, or maintain his current stance?
Their fates would hinge on that, but that was no longer my concern.
Let's end our connection here.
They'd spent too much time attached to a demon like me.
It wasn't good for them or for me.
That's why I thought it best to cut ties now, before any real attachment formed.
But…
"No! Help me persuade that man, too!"
"Shinobu…"
Shinobu spoke firmly, as if refusing.
Why me?
"Why not keep hounding him like I did? Then he'd have no choice but to listen."
Even if he initially refused them, if the girls kept at him, Himejima would have to give in.
He's a kind man by nature.
He simply refuses; he doesn't hate or despise them.
Actually, if a demon like me stayed with them, it'd be even harder to persuade him.
However.
"No—I've come this far. You must see this through to the end."
Shinobu met my gaze and spoke.
I don't know why she keeps insisting.
Even if I stayed, I wouldn't be any help.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Oh boy.
While Shinobu fussed and Kanae tried to calm her, I was caught in their squabble for about an hour.
For some reason, Himejima reappeared at the front of the house.
"I grant permission."
The stubborn look he'd worn while refusing disappeared, as he suddenly spoke of granting it.
However.
Though not overly obvious, his expression showed reluctance as if it weren't his own desire.
It was like someone else had forced him.
…No way.
Who else could break through that stubbornness?
There's only one person in this world capable of that.
Ubuyashiki?
The head of the Demon Slayer Corps, Lord Ubuyashiki.
Only he could make a Hashira move.
Shinobu and Kanae were delighted, but I felt a creeping sense of unease.
Could it be…
Though I've never seen a Ubuyashiki lord's face since joining the Corps…
Suddenly, the visage of the Tsugikuni Clan Head began to surface in my mind.
Surely this generation's head isn't as dopamine-crazed as our clan's head, right…?
@@@
"Follow me."
He turned as though to lead us on.
I was about to leave, but…
"Um… Tsukinokami-san, you must come as well."
It seemed I was included in the trial.
Following Himejima, what stood before us was…
"A boulder?"
A boulder as large as Himejima himself stood behind the house.
"If you complete the trial I set before you now, I will introduce you to an instructor who can make you a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Really?"
Shinobu shouted excitedly.
Bringing her here had proved the right move.
But…
What does this have to do with that massive rock?
Himejima closed his eyes and placed a hand on the rock.
"The trial is simple. Try to move this boulder. If you can move it, I will acknowledge you."
…?
We'd come to the wrong place.
Absurd words had leapt from his mouth.
No ordinary child could shift that rock.
Surely he knew how ridiculous it sounded, even to himself…
This was not a trial.
Nor was it torment.
It was merely a flimsy excuse to drive them away, to make them give up and go home.
There was no malice in his words.
Just as expected, next to her sister at a loss for words, Shinobu retorted.
"Are you stupid? There's no way you can do that! Who could live through that? Something like that!"
"I can push this and keep it moving for a set time."
"Well, of course you can, old man! You're as big as a bear!"
"If you can't, then it's over, is it?"
"W-what…?"
"If it's impossible, someone dies. Someone who deserves protection will fall. Even then, will you still offer such halfhearted excuses?"
Intimidated by his harsh words, Shinobu fell silent.
"It's not about can or can't. Even if you can't, it must be done. Even if your strength falls short, even if you must sacrifice everything, stake it all and see it through."
His voice was laced with strictness.
"Becoming a demon hunter—bearing human lives upon your back—is precisely that."
...
"If you cannot do that, then return home."
Faced with Himejima's resolute command, she shrank back.
But.
"Kid, are you giving up already?"
If she'd given up, I wouldn't have brought you here.
Abandoning it cleanly would have been best, but…
"He's right. To carry life on your back and fight is that very thing. Even if you can't, even if you're incapable, you must pour out every ounce of what you have."
You're not the type to give up; if you had, I'd have been the first to surrender.
"Don't shrink back. The resolve you hold isn't meant to stop here. Will is stronger than steel. If your resolve is anything less, cast it aside."
At my words, she nodded and faced Himejima resolutely.
Perhaps even blind, he could sense her gaze; his stern expression softened.
@@@
I watched them burn with resolve to meet the trial and prepared to leave.
But…
"And one last thing… Tsukinokami-san?"
As I tried to depart, Himejima stopped me.
"The final condition is that you, Tsukinokami-san, watch over their trial."
…?
What kind of condition is that?
Why must I?
Is your lord ordering you to do this?
…Is it really so?
"…Could it be… the Lord himself…?"
Himejima slowly nodded at my question.
I see.
I pressed my palm to my face as if nursing a headache.