Before Taka could even take a sip of tea to collect his thoughts, he was stopped by an anxious Kakushi member the moment he stepped into the estate.
"Storm Hashira-sama! Oyakata-sama urgently summons you! An emergency Hashira Meeting is being convened in the inner residence!"
Ubuyashiki Estate, Meeting Room.
The atmosphere here was even heavier than before Taka had left, oppressive enough to make it hard to breathe.
When Taka pushed open the door and entered, the gaze of every Hashira converged upon him.
Besides those he was familiar with, seated next to Gyomei was a masked man with an aura as steady as a bedrock… he was Giyu and Tanjiro's teacher, Urokodaki Sakonji.
'Even the former Water Hashira had been summoned?' Taka sat down without changing his expression.
"What happened to your face?" As soon as he sat down, Obanai curiously scrutinized Taka's slightly swollen mouth, his gaze suspicious. "How come you went to Mount Momo, and the old man Rumble Hashira committed suicide? What were you doing at the time?"
"...I did what I had to do." Taka's brief answer was unfathomable, but this topic was not the focus of today.
At the main seat, Kagaya himself did not appear. Presiding over the meeting were his two children, Kiriya and Hinaki, with expressions of unprecedented seriousness.
"Everyone, please look here." Kiriya pulled open a map covered in red dots. "During the days Storm Hashira-sama was traveling to Mount Momo, Kakushi divisions across the country have all reported back with extremely unusual intelligence."
The red dots were dense, covering Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and even remote Kyushu.
"Demons are no longer lurking in the shadows and acting alone as before. They have begun to large-scale, indiscriminately create disturbances."
"In just a few days, ten villages have been massacred. The local security forces were almost completely annihilated. These incidents have already alarmed the cabinet...."
"That bastard...." Sanemi's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He could already imagine the atrocity. "That mongrel Kibutsuji Muzan, has he finally lost patience?"
"This is truly a terrible disaster..." Gyomei frowned deeply, his prayer beads ceasing to move. "I think he is intentionally using the lives of ordinary people to force the Demon Slayer Corps to move, thereby tracking our traces amidst the chaos and finding the location of headquarters."
Sakonji also timely added, "Traces of demons have also appeared on Mount Sagiri, where I am. The intelligence Muzan possesses is more than we think, and his methods are varied. We absolutely must not lose our composure due to momentary anger."
"Although it is cruel, it would be best to for now set aside the tragedies in these regions and focus our strength on defeating Muzan as the highest priority." Obanai's voice was cold but realistic.
Kiriya nodded, his voice calm beyond his years: "....That is correct."
"Thanks to the help of two special allies, father has obtained crucial intelligence about Muzan… Muzan's main body and the Kizuki under him are hiding in a special space called the [Infinite Castle]."
"That is an alternate space controlled by a demon named Nakime. We might spend our entire lives and never find a way to enter. Yet the disturbances continue."
"Since Muzan also desires a decisive battle.... To satisfy him, father has made a decision: He will make public the location of the Ubuyashiki Estate, using himself as bait to lure Kibutsuji Muzan to take the initiative to attack! This is to avoid further damage and slaughter in the regions!"
"Are you joking?!" Sanemi shot to his feet, the floorboards creaking under his stomp. "Let that bastard charge directly in here? Then Oyakata-sama would be...!!"
"Shinazugawa-dono, please let me finish." Facing the Wind Hashira's killing intent, Kiriya strove to maintain his composure. "This is just a trap. Externally, we will release false intelligence through special channels, making Muzan believe that due to several Hashira being away for training, coupled with Oyakata-sama's serious illness, the defenses here are weak."
"But in reality, we will deploy the strongest defenses and ambushes around the estate! This is just an act, to trick him into revealing himself."
"Once he enters the encirclement, we will immediately ignite enough gunpowder to destroy a city block! Along with specially formulated potent poisons that counter Blood Demon Arts, we can absolutely weaken Muzan and his demon servants to the greatest extent!"
Kiriya spoke with conviction, yet everyone's doubts did not dissipate.
"Is it... really false intelligence?" Mitsuri asked cautiously.
"Yes, please rest assured, everyone." Hinaki bowed to the assembled group. "Father still has many unfulfilled wishes, he will not easily abandon his life... Please continue training according to the original plan, pretending nothing is happening. We absolutely cannot lose this battle!"
The meeting ended with an oppressive resolution.
The Hashira accepted their orders and left, each determining to cherish every moment to break through to the Demon Slayer Marks and Crimson Blades, preparing to explode with full force in the coming decisive battle.
As Taka prepared to leave with the others, the silent Hinaki gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Storm Hashira-sama.... Father requests you alone."
Taka looked at the silent Kiriya, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
Kiriya's performance earlier in front of everyone had been too perfect, perfect like reciting a long-rehearsed script.
Passing through the deep, secluded corridor, the scent of wisteria was mingled with a dense smell of rot.
Taka slid open the paper door. What he saw moved even someone as aloof as him.
Kagaya lay on the tatami, half his body already completely covered in purple curse patterns, his skin beginning to ulcerate.
He was nearly reduced to a skeleton, his very breathing seeming extraordinarily labored.
In just a few days, Kagaya's condition had further deteriorated to this extent. Taka had never imagined this.
"You've come, Taka...." Kagaya's voice was extremely soft, like the last dying leaf trembling in the autumn wind.
"Oyakata-sama." Taka sat directly by the door. "Your body...."
"It's alright. Release will come soon enough." Kagaya's sightless eyes struggled to turn in Taka's direction.
Although he knew the other could not see, Taka could always feel his gaze.
"Was what Kiriya said just now the truth?" Taka asked directly.
Kagaya revealed a weak yet gentle smile. ".....Only by making them believe I am safe and sound can they train without reservations and make their final breakthrough..."
"So this is a real sacrifice."
"Yes." Kagaya said calmly, as if using his own life as bait was nothing remarkable. "Muzan is an extremely timid and suspicious fellow.... If he doesn't truly see that my life is ending, if he doesn't truly confirm the Hashira are not by my side, he will never step into this cage..."
"My wife, my life, even... my children... are all prepared to turn to ashes."
Such a decision was far too cruel.
Putting himself in Kagaya's place, if it were Taka, he could not bring himself to sacrifice Tetsushin, Rika... or Shinobu.
"Why tell me alone?"
This question seemed somewhat sharp, causing Kagaya's body to tremble slightly.
His lips parted several times, as if hesitating whether to speak these words, but finally made up his mind: "Taka.... You are not human, are you...."